Personal information management method, personal information management apparatus, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A method of managing personal information includes the steps of (a) receiving a confirmation from an individual as to whether personal information of the individual is to be stored in a storage part corresponding to the individual at a request of a service provider that the personal information be stored, (b) determining, based on the confirmation from the individual, whether the storage of the personal information in the storage part is authorized; and (c) storing the personal information of the individual in the storage part if the step (b) determines that the storage of the personal information is authorized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to personal informationmanagement methods, personal information management apparatuses, andrecording media, and more particularly to a personal informationmanagement method and apparatus for managing personal information suchas a bank account number, a medical certificate issued by a hospital,and shopping points that shops issue for purchase of products, and arecording medium storing a program for executing such a method.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventionally, personal information such as a bank accountnumber, diagnostic information of a hospital, and shopping points issuedfor purchase of merchandise at shops has been managed by the owner ofthe personal information in the form of a paper “savings passbook”, apaper “medical certificate”, and a “point card”, respectively.

[0005] For instance, in the case of claiming for insurance payment byusing personal information, a person who claims for the payment presentsan insurance company with information such as a bank account number towhich the payment is to be made and a medical certificate in the form ofpaper. This causes the problem that the payment claimer has to write thebank account number on a given form and, in some cases, has to go to thehospital to receive the medical certificate after medical treatment.

[0006] Further, in the case of shopping at a shop that issues a shoppingpoint card, a person who has left the point card behind can neither earnnor spend points for any purchase of product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention toprovide a personal information management method by which theabove-described disadvantages are eliminated.

[0008] A more specific object of the present invention is to provide apersonal information management method that saves a person time andtrouble in receiving a service for which the person is required toprovide the personal information thereof.

[0009] Another more specific object of the present invention is toprovide a personal information management apparatus suitable forperforming such a method and a recording medium storing a program forperforming such a method.

[0010] The above objects of the present invention are achieved by amethod of managing personal information including the steps of (a)receiving a confirmation from an individual as to whether personalinformation of the individual is to be stored in a storage partcorresponding to the individual at a request of a service provider thatthe personal information be stored, (b) determining, based on theconfirmation from the individual, whether the storage of the personalinformation in the storage part is authorized, and (c) storing thepersonal information of the individual in the storage part if the step(b) determines that the storage of the personal information isauthorized.

[0011] According to the above-described method, the individual can haveher/his personal information stored in the storage part accessible byothers. This saves the individual time and trouble in obtaining her/hisinformation when necessary.

[0012] Additionally, the above-described method may further include thesteps of (d) receiving a reference identifier corresponding to thepersonal information stored in the storage part from the individual orthe service provider, and (e) extracting the personal information fromthe storage part based on the reference identifier.

[0013] Thereby, the individual is saved time and trouble in presentingher/his personal information when necessary.

[0014] Additionally, in the above-described method, the individual maytransmit the confirmation from a first terminal and the service providermay transmit the request from a second terminal, the first and secondterminals being connected electrically via a network.

[0015] Thereby, the individual is allowed to obtain her/his personalinformation and have the information referred to via the network.Therefore, the individual is saved time and trouble in receiving aservice for which the individual is required to obtain and presentsher/his personal information.

[0016] The above objects of the present invention are also achieved byan apparatus for managing personal information including: a storage partstoring personal information of an individual corresponding to thestorage part, the personal information corresponding to a request of aservice provider; a first part receiving from the individual aconfirmation as to whether the personal information is to be stored; asecond part determining, based on the confirmation, whether the storageof the personal information in the storage part is authorized; and athird part storing the personal information in the storage part if thesecond part determines that the storage of the personal information isauthorized.

[0017] The above-described apparatus is suitable for the above-describedmethod.

[0018] The above objects of the present invention are further achievedby a computer-readable recording medium storing a program ofinstructions executable by a computer to perform a method of managingpersonal information, the method including the steps of (a) receiving aconfirmation from an individual as to whether personal information ofthe individual is to be stored in a storage part corresponding to theindividual at a request of a service provider that the personalinformation be stored, (b) determining, based on the confirmation fromthe individual, whether the storage of the personal information in thestorage part is authorized, and (c) storing the personal information ofthe individual in the storage part if the step (b) determines that thestorage of the personal information is authorized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a flowchart for illustrating a general operation flow ofpersonal information management according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for illustrating a flow of a storageoperation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a flowchart for illustrating a flow of a referenceoperation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of a personal informationdatabase according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another state of the personalinformation database according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another state of the personalinformation database according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0027]FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a screen image of a member terminal,FIG. 8B is a diagram showing another screen image of the memberterminal, FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a screen image of a hospitalterminal, and FIG. 8D is a diagram showing another screen image of themember terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another screen image of the memberterminal according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing screen images of aninsurance company terminal according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0030]FIG. 11A is a diagram showing another screen image of the memberterminal and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing another screen image of themember terminal or the hospital terminal according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0031]FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing states of a hospitalterminal database according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state of an insurance companyterminal database according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 14 is another flowchart for illustrating the generaloperation flow of the personal information management according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIGS. 15A through 15C are diagrams showing states of a shopterminal database according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0035]FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing states of the personalinformation database according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0036]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state of a hospital databaseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state of an insurance companydatabase according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams showing states of a shop databaseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention; and

[0039]FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams showing screen images of a shopterminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] A description will now be given, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of thisembodiment. In the system of FIG. 1, a personal information managementapparatus 100 is a computer including a processor and a memory. At leastone member terminal 160 operated by a member, at least one shop terminal170 operated by a shop clerk, at least one insurance company terminal180 operated by a company employee, and at least one hospital terminal190 operated by a hospital staff member are connected to the personalinformation management apparatus 100 via a network 150.

[0042] The personal information management apparatus 100 is provided,for instance, in a personal information management center managingpersonal information such as bank account numbers, medical certificates,and shopping points. The personal information management center isaccessible from any of the member terminal 160, the shop terminal 170,the insurance company terminal 180, and the hospital terminal 190. Thepersonal information management apparatus 100 includes four databases(DBs): a personal information DB 130, a hospital DB 140, an insurancecompany DB 141, and a shop DB 142; and two programs: a storage program110 and a reference program 120. The storage program 110, upon receivinga storage request from any of the member, the shop clerk, the insurancecompany employee, and the hospital staff member, stores the personalinformation in the personal information DB 130, referring to any of thefour DBs 130, 140, 141, and 142. The reference program 120, uponreceiving a reference request from any of the member, the shop clerk,the insurance company employee, and the hospital staff member, refers tothe personal information stored in the personal information DB 130,referring to any of the four DBs 130, 140, 141, and 142.

[0043] The personal information DB 130 is composed mainly of threeelements of (a) a common part storing common information on the member,(b) a personal information part only storing information from themember, and (c) an others information part only storing information fromthose other than the member. In the drawings, (a), (b), and (c) in thepersonal information DB 130 indicate the common part, the personalinformation part, and the others information part, respectively. Only auser who holds a later-described reference key is allowed to refer tothe personal information DB 130. The components of the common part aremember ID, mail address, password, user type, personal area address(address of personal information part), and others area address (addressof others information part). The components of each of the personalinformation part and the others information part are latest data-updatedate, number of stored data, number of storable data, date of datawrite, ID of data storer (data writer), data retention period, dataarea, reference key, date of data reference, and ID of data referrer.

[0044]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an initial state 500 of the personalinformation DB 130 of member “Onuki”. The following data are set in theDB 130:

[0045] member ID: onuki

[0046] password: onuki123

[0047] mail address: HYPERLINK

[0048] mailto:onuki@abc.com onuki@abc.com

[0049] user type: personal

[0050] personal area address: aaa

[0051] others area address: bbb “00000010” is set in the cells of numberof storable data, and “00000000” is set in the remaining data items.

[0052] The components of the hospital DB 140 are hospital name, loginname, password, user type, storage key, and mail address.

[0053]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an initial state 1700 of the hospitalDB 140 of a hospital “Kawasaki Hospital”. The following data are set inthe DB 140:

[0054] hospital name: Kawasaki Hospital

[0055] login name: kawasaki-hospital

[0056] password: kawasaki-hospital123

[0057] user type: others

[0058] storage key: 0

[0059] mail address: HYPERLINK mailto:kawasaki-hospital@abc.comkawasaki-hospital@abc.com

[0060] The components of the insurance company DB 141 are insurancecompany name, login name, password, user type, storage key, and mailaddress.

[0061]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an initial state 1800 of theinsurance company DB 141 of an insurance company “Kawasaki Life”. Thefollowing data are set in the DB 141:

[0062] insurance company name: Kawasaki Life

[0063] login name: kawasaki-life

[0064] password: kawasaki-life123

[0065] user type: others

[0066] storage key: 0

[0067] mail address: HYPERLINK mailto:kawasaki-life@abc.comkawasaki-life@abc.com

[0068] The components of the shop DB 142 are shop name, login name,password, user type, storage key, and mail address.

[0069]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an initial state 1900 of the shop DB142 of a shop “Kawasaki shop”. The following data are set in the DB 142:

[0070] shop name: Kawasaki shop

[0071] login name: kawasaki-shop

[0072] password: kawasaki-shop123

[0073] user type: others

[0074] storage key: 0

[0075] mail address: HYPERLINK mailto:kawasaki-shop@abc.comkawasaki-shop@abc.com

[0076] The shop terminal 170 includes a shop terminal DB 171, whosecomponents are ID of personal information management apparatus to beaccessed (hereinafter, accessed apparatus ID), login name for accessingpersonal information management apparatus (hereinafter, access loginname), stored data, and reference key.

[0077] The insurance company terminal 180 includes an insurance companyterminal DB 181, whose components are accessed apparatus ID, accesslogin name, stored data, and reference key.

[0078] The hospital terminal 190 includes a hospital terminal DB 191,whose components are accessed apparatus ID, access login name, storeddata, and reference key.

[0079] A description will be given herein, with reference to FIGS. 1through 13, 17, and 18, of an operation of the system of FIG. 1. In thisoperation, the account number of the member, which is the member's owninformation, is stored at the storage request of the member, that is, atthe request of the member to store the account number, the medicalcertificate of the member is stored at the request of the hospital withthe member requesting the hospital to have the medical certificatestored, and insurance payment is made to the member by referring to theaccount number and the medical certificate at the reference request ofthe insurance company, that is, at the request of the insurance companyto refer to the account number and the medical certificate.

[0080]FIG. 2 is a flowchart for illustrating a general operation flowcomposed of an operation of storing the member information at a requesttherefor (a storage operation) and an operation of referring to themember information at a request therefor (a reference operation). FIG. 3is a flowchart of the storage operation. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of thereference operation. FIGS. 5 through 7 are diagrams showing the specificcontents of the personal information DB 130. FIGS. 8A through 11B arediagrams showing the specific contents of the screens of the memberterminal 160, the insurance company terminal 180, and the hospitalterminal 190. FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing the hospitalterminal DB 191 included in the hospital terminal 190. FIG. 13 is adiagram showing the insurance company terminal DB 181 included in theinsurance company terminal 180. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing thehospital DB 140 included in the personal information managementapparatus 100. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the insurance company DB 141included in the personal information management apparatus 100.

[0081] A description will be given, with reference to FIG. 2, of theoperation of the system at the time of performing the storage andreference operations. In FIG. 2, (A) indicates a sequence of steps forstoring the account number at the storage request of the member, (B)indicates a sequence of steps for storing the medical certificate at thestorage request of the hospital, and (C) indicates a sequence of stepsfor referring to the account number and the medical certificate at thereference request of the insurance company.

[0082] First, in step S200, the member terminal 160 inputs a request forthe personal information management apparatus 100 to store the accountnumber.

[0083]FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a screen image 800 of the memberterminal 160 at the time of the member (“Onuki”) logging in to thepersonal information management apparatus 100 and selecting a “storage”service.

[0084]FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a screen image 810 of the memberterminal 160 at the time of the member (“Onuki”) inputting data of bankname “AAA Bank”, branch name “BBB branch”, account number “1111111111”,data retention period “2002.6.29-13:00:00”, and reference key “accountnumber” to the personal information management apparatus 100.

[0085] In step S205, the personal information management apparatus 100receives the storage request and, in step S210, stores the input accountnumber in the personal information DB 130.

[0086] In step S211, the member terminal 160 obtains a search key storedtogether with the account number in step S210 and stores the search keyin a primary storage.

[0087] Next, in step S215, the member terminal 160 inputs a request forthe hospital terminal 190 to have the medical certificate stored.

[0088] In step S220, the hospital terminal 190 receives the storagerequest and, in step S225, inputs a request for the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 to store the medical certificate.

[0089]FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an initial state 1200 of thehospital terminal DB 191 of the hospital “Kawasaki Hospital”. Thefollowing data are set in the DB 191:

[0090] accessed apparatus ID: ABCDE

[0091] access login name: kawasaki-hospital

[0092] stored data: medical certificate

[0093] reference key:

[0094] In step S230, the personal information management apparatus 100receives the storage request and, in step S235, stores the input medicalcertificate in the personal information DB 130.

[0095]FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a screen image 820 of the hospitalterminal 190 at the time of the hospital (“kawasaki-hospital”) inputtingdata of patient “Onuki”, doctor in attendance “Sato”, case “fracture”,medical service fee “X”, and data retention period “2002.6.30-13:00:00”to the personal information management apparatus 100.

[0096] However, in the case of storing the others information such as amedical certificate in the personal information DB 130, the personalinformation management apparatus 100 confirms with the member terminal160 whether the personal information management apparatus 100 may storethe information requested to be stored in the personal information DB130. In step S240, the member terminal 160 receives a message from thepersonal information management apparatus 100 asking for confirmation asto whether to store the requested information (medical certificate) inthe personal information DB 130, and displays the confirmation requestmessage asking for storage confirmation.

[0097]FIG. 8D is a diagram showing a screen image 830 of the memberterminal 160 at the time of the member (“Onuki”) receiving the messagefrom the personal information management apparatus 100 asking forconfirmation as to whether to store the medical certificate from thehospital (“kawasaki-hospital”) including the data of patient “Onuki”,doctor in attendance “Sato”, case “fracture”, medical service fee “X”,and data retention period “2002.6.30-13:00:00”.

[0098] In step S245, the member (“Onuki”) confirms whether to store themedical certificate based on the received message, and if the memberconfirms that the medical certificate is to be stored, the memberdetermines a reference key for the medical certificate and transmits aresult of confirmation including the reference key to the personalinformation management apparatus 100..

[0099]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen image 900 of the memberterminal 160 at the time of the member (“Onuki”) transmitting theconfirmation result after confirming that the medical certificate is tobe stored based on the received message asking for storage confirmationand inputting the reference key “medical certificate”.

[0100] In step S235, the personal information management apparatus 100stores the medical certificate in the personal information DB 130 and astorage key in the hospital DB 140.

[0101] In step S250, the member terminal 160 obtains a search key storedtogether with the medical certificate in step S235 and stores the searchkey in the primary storage.

[0102] In step S251, the hospital terminal 190 obtains the search keystored together with the medical certificate in step S235 and stores thesearch key in the hospital terminal DB 191.

[0103]FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a state 1210 of the hospitalterminal DB 191 after step S251. The following data are set in the DB191:

[0104] accessed apparatus ID: ABCDE

[0105] access login name: kawasaki-hospital

[0106] stored data: medical certificate

[0107] reference data: medical certificate

[0108]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state 600 of the personalinformation DB 130 of the member (“Onuki”) after step S235. Thefollowing data are set in the DB 130 in this state:

[0109] in the common part,

[0110] member ID: onuki

[0111] password: onuki123

[0112] mail address: HYPERLINK

[0113] mailto:onuki@abc.com onuki@abc.com

[0114] user type: personal

[0115] personal area address: aaa

[0116] others area address: bbb

[0117] in the personal information part,

[0118] latest data-update date: 2001.6.29-13:00:00

[0119] number of stored data: 1

[0120] number of storable data: 9

[0121] date of storage: 2001.6.29-13:00:00

[0122] data storer ID: onuki

[0123] data retention period: 2002.6.29-13:00:00

[0124] data area: account number

[0125] reference key: account number

[0126] and in the others information part,

[0127] latest data-update date: 2001.6.30-13:00:00

[0128] number of stored data: 1

[0129] number of storable data: 9

[0130] date of storage: 2001.6.30-13:00:00

[0131] data storer ID: kawasaki-hospital

[0132] data retention period: 2002.6.30-13:00:00

[0133] data area: medical certificate

[0134] reference key: medical certificate

[0135] Thereafter, in step S255, the member terminal 160 transmits aninsurance claim based on the account number and the medical certificateto the insurance company terminal 180.

[0136] In step S260, the insurance company terminal 180 receives theinsurance claim and, in step S265, inputs a request for the personalinformation management apparatus 100 to refer to the account number andthe medical certificate.

[0137]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state 1300 of the insurance companyterminal DB 181 of the insurance company “Kawasaki Life” after stepS265. The following data are set in the DB 181:

[0138] accessed apparatus ID: ABCDE

[0139] access login name: kawasaki-life

[0140] stored data: -

[0141] reference data: account number, medical certificate

[0142]FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a screen image 1000 of the insurancecompany terminal 180 at the time of the insurance company(“kawasaki-life”) inputs two reference keys of the account number andthe medical certificate as input information for the reference request.

[0143] In step S270, the personal information management apparatus 100receives the reference request. In step S275, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 searches the personal information DB 130 basedon the reference keys of the account number and the medical certificate,and refers to the account number and the medical certificate.

[0144] In step S285, the insurance company terminal 180 arranges forinsurance payment based on the account number and the medicalcertificate obtained in step S275.

[0145]FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a screen image 1010 of the insurancecompany terminal 180 at the time of the insurance company(“kawasaki-life”) searching the personal information DB 130 included inthe personal information management apparatus 100 based on the referencekeys of “account number” and “medical certificate” and obtaining asreference information the account number composed of bank name “AAABank”, branch name “BBB branch”, account number “1111111111”, and dataretention period “2002.6.29-13:00:00” and the medical certificatecomposed of patient “Onuki”, doctor in attendance “Sato”, case“fracture”, medical service fee “X”, and data retention period“2002.6.30-13:00:00”.

[0146] Steps S290 and S295 are part of a sequence of steps taken in thecase of referring to the account number and the medical certificate atthe request of the member and correspond to steps S265 and S285.

[0147] In step S290, the member terminal 160 inputs a request for thepersonal information management apparatus 100 to refer to the accountnumber and the medical certificate.

[0148] In step S295, the member terminal 160 obtains the account numberand the medical certificate obtained in step S275.

[0149] A description will now be given, with reference to FIG. 3, of thestorage operation of the personal information management apparatus 100.

[0150] In step S300, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether a login name and a password included in a storagerequest transmitted from a terminal requesting storage of information,for instance, the member terminal 160, exist in the personal informationDB 130.

[0151] If the login name and the password exist in the personalinformation DB 130 (that is, “YES” in step S300), in step S305, thepersonal information management apparatus 100 determines whether theuser type is “others”.

[0152] If the login name and the password do not exist in the personalinformation DB 130 (that is, “NO” in step S300), in step S370, thepersonal information management apparatus 100 transmits a message thatthe requesting terminal has failed in storing the information (aninformation storage failure message) to the requesting terminal (themember terminal 160).

[0153]FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a screen image 1110 of the memberterminal 160 at the time of the member receiving the information storagefailure message from the personal information management apparatus 100.

[0154] If the personal information management apparatus 100 determinesin step S305 that the user type is not “others”, in step S355, thepersonal information management apparatus 100 stores the information tobe stored and a reference key corresponding thereto both included in thestorage request in the personal information part of the personalinformation DB 130. Then, in step S365, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 transmits the reference key to the memberterminal 160 that has requested storage of the information.

[0155] The common part and the personal information part of the personalinformation DB 130 storing the information to be stored and thereference key “account number” input to the screen image 810 by themember “onuki” whose user type is “personal” are as indicated by (a) and(b) in FIG. 6.

[0156] If the user type is “others” (that is, “YES” in step S305), instep S310, the personal information management apparatus 100 determineswhether a storage key exists in one of the DBs 140 through 142 in thepersonal information management apparatus 100 which one corresponds tothe requesting terminal. If no storage key exists (that is, “NO” in stepS310), in step S320, the personal information management apparatus 100transmits a confirmation request (message) to the member terminal 160.

[0157] In step S325, the personal information management apparatus 100receives a confirmation result transmitted from the member terminal thathas received the confirmation request.

[0158] In step S330, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether the confirmation result approves storage of theinformation.

[0159] If the confirmation results approves storage of the information(that is, “YES” in step S330), in step S335, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 stores a storage key in the corresponding oneof the DBs 140 through 142 and, in step S340, stores the information anda reference key corresponding thereto both included in the storagerequest in the others information part of the personal information DB130. In step S350, the personal information management apparatus 100transmits the reference key input by the member to the requestingterminal.

[0160] If the confirmation result does not approve storage of theinformation (that is, “NO” in step S330), in step S370, the personalinformation management apparatus 100 transmits the information storagefailure message to the requesting terminal.

[0161] If a storage key exists (that is, “YES” in step S310), steps S335and S340 are performed and, in step S350, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 transmits the reference key to the requestingterminal, for instance, the hospital terminal 190.

[0162] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 4, ofthe reference operation of the personal information management apparatus100.

[0163] In step S400, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether a login name and a password included in a referencerequest transmitted from a terminal, for instance, the insurance companyterminal 180, exist in the insurance company DB 141.

[0164] If the login name and the password exist (that is, “YES” in stepS400), in step S405, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether personal information corresponding to a reference keyinput from the requesting terminal (the insurance company terminal 180)exists in the personal information DB 130.

[0165] If the login name and the password do not exist in the insurancecompany DB 141 (that is, “NO” in step S400), in step S450, the personalinformation management apparatus 100 transmits an information referencefailure message to the insurance company terminal 180.

[0166] The insurance company terminal 180 also has the screen image 1110shown in FIG. 11B when the insurance company terminal 180 receives theinformation reference failure message from the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100.

[0167] If personal information corresponding to the input reference keyexists in the personal information DB 130 (that is, “YES” in step S405),in step S410, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether the user type is “personal”.

[0168] If the user type is not “personal” (that is, “NO” in step S410),in step S445, the personal information management apparatus 100transmits the personal information corresponding to the reference keywithout the function of permitting a comment to be added to the personalinformation. Then, in step S441, the personal information managementapparatus 100 updates a reference history.

[0169] If the user type is “personal” (that is, “YES” in step S410), instep S420, the personal information management apparatus 100 transmitsthe personal information corresponding to the reference key with thefunction of permitting a comment to be added to the personalinformation.

[0170] In step S425, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether any additional comment to the personal information isreturned.

[0171]FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a screen image 1100 of the memberterminal 160 in the case of the member (“onuki”) searching the personalinformation DB 130 in the personal information management apparatus 100based on the two reference keys “account number” and “medicalcertificate”, obtaining as reference information the account numbercomposed of data of bank name “AAA Bank”, branch name “BBB branch”,account number “1111111111”, and data retention period“2002.6.29-13:00:00” and the medical certificate composed of data ofpatient “Onuki”, doctor in attendance “Sato”, case “fracture”, medicalservice fee “X”, and data retention period “2002.6.30-13:00:00”, andfurther inputting an additional comment “A claim on insurance paymentfor the medical service fee “X” is made to kawasaki-life.”

[0172] If the personal information management apparatus 100 receives anadditional comment (that is, “YES” in step S425), in step S430, thepersonal information management apparatus 100 stores the personalinformation with the additional comment in the personal information partof the personal information DB 130. Then, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 transmits the reference key to the requestingterminal and, in step S441, updates the reference history.

[0173]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state 700 of the personalinformation DB 130 of the member (“Onuki”) after step S430. Thefollowing data are set in the DB 130 in this state:

[0174] in the common part,

[0175] member ID: onuki

[0176] password: onuki123

[0177] mail address: HYPERLINK

[0178] mail to: onuki@abc.com onuki@abc.com

[0179] user type: personal

[0180] personal area address: aaa

[0181] others area address: bbb

[0182] in the personal information part,

[0183] latest data-update date: 2001.7.5-13:00:00

[0184] number of stored data: 2

[0185] number of storable data: 8

[0186] date of storage: 2001.6.29-13:00:00

[0187] data storer ID: onuki

[0188] data retention period: 2002.6.29-13:00:00

[0189] data area: account number

[0190] reference key: account number

[0191] date of data reference: 2001.7.1-13:00:00

[0192] data referrer ID: kawasaki-life

[0193] date of storage: 2001.7.5-13:00:00

[0194] data storer ID: onuki

[0195] data retention period: 2002.7.5-13:00:00

[0196] data area: medical certificate

[0197] reference key: medical certificate memo and in the othersinformation part,

[0198] latest data-update date: 2001.6.30-13:00:00

[0199] number of stored data: 1

[0200] number of storable data: 9

[0201] date of storage: 2001.6.30-13:00:00

[0202] data storer ID: kawasaki-hospital

[0203] data retention period: 2002.6.30-13:00:00

[0204] data area: medical certificate

[0205] reference key: medical certificate

[0206] date of data reference: 2001.7.1-13:15:00

[0207] data referrer ID: kawasaki-life

[0208] If the personal information management apparatus 100 receives noadditional comment (that is, “NO” in step S425), in step S441, thepersonal information management apparatus 100 updates the referencehistory.

[0209] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 14, ofan operation of the personal information management apparatus 100 in thecase of accumulating and storing points.

[0210] In FIG. 14, (A) indicates a sequence of steps taken in the caseof the member requesting the shop to store points for the first time,and (B) indicates a sequence of steps taken in the case of the memberrequesting the shop to store points after a storage key is issued.

[0211] In step S1400 in the sequence (A) of FIG. 14, the member terminal160 inputs a request for the shop terminal 170 to store points.

[0212] In step S1405, the shop terminal 170 receives the storage requestand, in step S1410, inputs a request for the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 to store the points.

[0213]FIG. 15A is a diagram showing an initial state 1500 of the shopterminal DB 171 of the shop “Kawasaki shop”. The following data are setin the DB 171:

[0214] accessed apparatus ID: ABCDE

[0215] access login name: kawasaki-shop

[0216] stored data: point (0)

[0217] reference key: -

[0218] In step S1415, the personal information management apparatus 100receives the storage request and, in step S1420, stores the input pointsin the personal information DB 130 and a storage key in the shop DB 142.

[0219]FIG. 20A is a diagram showing a screen image 2000 of the shopterminal 170 at the time of the shop (“kawasaki-shop”) inputting data ofmember “onuki” and point “+100” to the personal information managementapparatus 100.

[0220] However, in the case of storing the others information such aspoints in the personal information DB 130, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 confirms with the member terminal 160 whetherthe personal information management apparatus 100 may store theinformation requested to be stored in the personal information DB 130.In step S1425, the member terminal 160 receives a message from thepersonal information management apparatus 100 asking for confirmation asto whether to store the requested information (points) in the personalinformation DB 130, and displays the confirmation request message askingfor storage confirmation.

[0221] In step S1430, the member (“onuki”) confirms whether to store thepoints based on the received message, and if the member confirms thatthe points are to be stored, the member determines a reference key forthe points and transmits a result of confirmation including thereference key to the personal information management apparatus 100.

[0222]FIG. 19A is a diagram showing a state 1910 of the shop DB 142 ofthe shop “Kawasaki shop” after step S1440. The following data are set inthe DB 142 in this state:

[0223] shop name: Kawasaki shop

[0224] login name: kawasaki-shop

[0225] password: kawasaki-shop123

[0226] user type: others

[0227] storage key: 1

[0228] mail address: HYPERLINK mailto:kawasaki-shop@abc.comkawasaki-shop@abc.com

[0229]FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a state 1600 of the personalinformation DB 130 of the member (“Onuki”) after step S1420. Thefollowing data is set in the DB 130 in this state:

[0230] member ID: onuki

[0231] password: onuki123

[0232] mail address: HYPERLINK

[0233] mailto:onuki@abc.com onuki@abc.com

[0234] user type: personal

[0235] personal area address: aaa

[0236] others area address: bbb

[0237] latest data-update date: 2001.9.25-13:00:00

[0238] number of stored data: 1

[0239] number of storable data: 9

[0240] date of storage: 2001.9.25-13:00:00

[0241] data storer ID: kawasaki-shop

[0242] data retention period: 2002.9.25-13:00:00

[0243] data area: point (+100)

[0244] reference key: point

[0245] In step S1435, the member terminal 160 obtains a search keystored together with the points in step S1420, and stores the search keyin the primary storage.

[0246] In step S1440, the shop terminal 170 obtains the search keystored together with the points in step S1420, and stores the search keyin the shop terminal DB 171 in the shop terminal 170.

[0247]FIG. 15B is a diagram showing a state 1510 of the shop terminal DB171 after step S1440. The following data are set in the DB 171:

[0248] accessed apparatus ID: ABCDE

[0249] access login name: kawasaki-shop

[0250] stored data: point (+100)

[0251] reference key: point

[0252] In step S1445 in the sequence (B) of FIG. 14, the member terminal160 inputs a request for the shop terminal 170 having the storage key inthe personal information management apparatus 100 to store points.

[0253] In step S1450, the shop terminal 170 receives the storage requestand, in step S1455, inputs a request for the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 to store the points.

[0254] In step S1460, the personal information management apparatus 100receives the storage request and, in step S1465, stores the input pointsin the personal information DB 130.

[0255]FIG. 20B is a diagram showing a screen image 2010 of the shopterminal 170 at the time of the shop (“kawasaki-shop”) inputting data ofmember “onuki” and point “−50” to the personal information managementapparatus 100.

[0256] In step S1465, the personal information management apparatus 100determines whether the storage key is set in the shop DB 142, and sincethe storage key is set in the shop DB 142, the personal informationmanagement apparatus 100 stores the points in the personal informationDB 130 without confirming with the member. Thereafter, the personalinformation management apparatus 100 transmits the reference key to themember terminal 160 and the shop terminal 170.

[0257]FIG. 19B is a diagram showing a state 1910 of the shop DB 142 ofthe shop “Kawasaki shop” before step S1465. The following data are setin the DB 142 in this state:

[0258] shop name: Kawasaki shop

[0259] login name: kawasaki-shop

[0260] password: kawasaki-shop123

[0261] user type: others

[0262] storage key: 1

[0263] mail address: HYPERLINK mailto:kawasaki-shop@abc.comkawasaki-shop@abc.com

[0264]FIG. 16B is a diagram showing a state 1610 of the personalinformation DB 130 of the member (“Onuki”) after step S1465. Thefollowing data are set in the DB 130 in this state:

[0265] member ID: onuki

[0266] password: onuki123

[0267] mail address: HYPERLINK

[0268] mailto:onuki@abc.com onuki@abc.com

[0269] user type: personal

[0270] personal area address: aaa

[0271] others area address: bbb

[0272] latest data-update date: 2001.9.30-13:00:00

[0273] number of stored data: 1

[0274] number of storable data: 9

[0275] date of storage: 2001.9.30-13:00:00

[0276] data storer ID: kawasaki-shop

[0277] data retention period: 2002.9.30-13:00:00

[0278] data area: point (+50)

[0279] reference key: point

[0280] In step S1470, the member terminal 160 obtains a search keystored together with the points in step S1465, and stores the search keyin the primary storage.

[0281] In step S1475, the shop terminal 170 obtains the search keystored together with the points in step S1465, and stores the search keyin the shop terminal DB 171.

[0282]FIG. 15C is a diagram showing a state 1520 of the shop terminal DB171 after step S1475. The following data are set in the DB 171:

[0283] accessed apparatus ID: ABCDE

[0284] access login name: kawasaki-shop

[0285] stored data: point (+50)

[0286] reference key: point

[0287] According to the present invention, a person who claims aninsurance payment is freed from filling out a given form to be sent toan insurance company or visiting the hospital for collecting personalinformation by storing personal information such as an account numberand a medical certificate and having the personal information referredto by the insurance company by using the storage and reference system ofthe present invention.

[0288] Further, a person who has left a point card behind can storepoints for merchandise purchase by using the storage and referencesystem of the present invention.

[0289] The present invention is not limited to the specificallydisclosed embodiment, but variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0290] The present application is based on Japanese priority applicationNo. 2001-320012 filed on Oct. 17, 2001, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing personal information,comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a confirmation from an individualas to whether personal information of the individual is to be stored ina storage part corresponding to the individual at a request of a serviceprovider that the personal information be stored; (b) determining, basedon the confirmation from the individual, whether the storage of thepersonal information in the storage part is authorized; and (c) storingthe personal information of the individual in the storage part if saidstep (b) determines that the storage of the personal information isauthorized.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (b)determines whether the storage of the personal information is authorizedby using a storage identifier corresponding to the confirmation from theindividual.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising thestep of (d) inquiring of the individual whether the individualauthorizes the storage of the personal information in the storage partif said step (b) determines that the storage of the personal informationis not authorized.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: (d) receiving a reference identifiercorresponding to the personal information stored in the storage partfrom the individual or the service provider; and (e) extracting thepersonal information from the storage part based on the referenceidentifier.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individualtransmits the confirmation from a first terminal and the serviceprovider transmits the request from a second terminal, the first andsecond terminals being connected electrically via a network.
 6. Anapparatus for managing personal information, comprising: a storage partstoring personal information of an individual corresponding to saidstorage part, the personal information corresponding to a request of aservice provider; a first part receiving from the individual aconfirmation as to whether the personal information is to be stored; asecond part determining, based on the confirmation, whether the storageof the personal information in said storage part is authorized; and athird part storing the personal information in said storage part if saidsecond part determines that the storage of the personal information isauthorized.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising afourth part storing a storage identifier corresponding to theconfirmation from the individual, wherein said second part determineswhether the storage of the personal information is authorized by usingthe storage identifier.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, furthercomprising a fourth part inquiring of the individual whether theindividual authorizes the storage of the personal information in saidstorage part if said second part determines that the storage of thepersonal information is not authorized.
 9. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 6, wherein further comprising: a fourth part receiving a referenceidentifier corresponding to the personal information stored in saidstorage part from the individual or the service provider; and a fifthpart extracting the personal information from said storage part based onthe reference identifier.
 10. A computer-readable recording mediumstoring a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform amethod of managing personal information, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) receiving a confirmation from an individual as to whetherpersonal information of the individual is to be stored in a storage partcorresponding to the individual at a request of a service provider thatthe personal information be stored; (b) determining, based on theconfirmation from the individual, whether the storage of the personalinformation in the storage part is authorized; and (c) storing thepersonal information of the individual in the storage part if said step(b) determines that the storage of the personal information isauthorized.
 11. The recording medium as claimed in claim 10, whereinsaid step (b) determines whether the storage of the personal informationis authorized by using a storage identifier corresponding to theconfirmation from the individual.
 12. The recording medium as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of (d) inquiringof the individual whether the individual authorizes the storage of thepersonal information in the storage part if said step (b) determinesthat the storage of the personal information is not authorized.
 13. Therecording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method furthercomprises the steps of: (d) receiving a reference identifiercorresponding to the personal information stored in the storage partfrom the individual or the service provider; and (e) extracting thepersonal information from the storage part based on the referenceidentifier.
 14. The recording medium as claimed in claim 10, wherein theindividual transmits the confirmation from a first terminal and theservice provider transmits the request from a second terminal, the firstand second terminals being connected electrically via a network.